HiTechEdge

Tag: CNET

  • Google’s Privacy Labels Will Be Required By April 2022

    Google’s Privacy Labels Will Be Required By April 2022

    Android developers will be required to provide a privacy label for their apps by April 2022, bringing a new level of transparency to the platform.

    Apple rocked the mobile development world when it required app developers to disclose what information they gathered and tracked from their users. Meanwhile, Android users have had no comparable feature, leaving them in the dark about what and how much of their data is being collected by apps.

    Google is taking steps to address that, signaling in May it intended to bring its own version of privacy labels to the Play Store. According to CNET, those labels will be required by April 2022.

    The announcement is good news for Android users who are interested in protecting their privacy.

  • Netflix Confirms It Will Offer Mobile Games, Ad-Free and No Extra Cost

    Netflix Confirms It Will Offer Mobile Games, Ad-Free and No Extra Cost

    Netflix has confirmed the rumors, announcing it will offer mobile games at no extra cost and ad-free.

    Netflix has been rumored to be preparing to enter the video game market, even going so far as to hire Mike Verdu — formerly of Electronic Arts and Facebook’s Oculus team — as Vice President of Game Development.

    According to CNET, the company has now confirmed its plans at its second-quarter earnings calls.

    “There’s a rich opportunity to continue to deliver and advance the technical capability to improve the quality of game experiences we can deliver across the range of devices,” said Greg Peters, Netflix’s chief operating and product officer.

    Netflix entering the video game market could be a game-changer for the company and help drive subscription growth. Especially with plans to offer the service at no extra cost, consumers who have complained about Netflix’s price hikes may suddenly see the company’s offering as an entertainment-based value proposition.

  • Facebook Groups Will Be Able to Assign “Experts” to Combat Misinformation

    Facebook Groups Will Be Able to Assign “Experts” to Combat Misinformation

    Facebook is taking another major step in its battle to combat misinformation, allowing groups to assign “experts.”

    Misinformation has become one of the biggest challenges facing social media platforms. From elections to vaccines to current events, misinformation runs rampant on social media. Facebook, in particular, has faced accusations of not doing enough to combat it.

    The company is adding a major new feature that will allow groups to appoint experts, according to CNET. The experts will have a badge next to their name, which will inform other users of their expertise.

    Facebook hopes having experts in groups will help combat misinformation, providing a bit more accountability within groups, rather than them being a complete free-for-all.